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On 3 September 2013, Union J announced via Twitter the name of their next single would be "Beautiful Life" and will be released on 21 October: "THE WAIT IS OVER! Our brand new single is called "Beautiful Life" and is released on 21st Oct #UnionJBeautifulLife". George Shelley said: "Single 2 is called Beautiful Life, and its my favourite song in the world. Means so much to me, and you'll love it!" The group also commented on the track: "The guitar is back!", and Josh Cuthbert described it as a "mid-tempo song" that "builds throughout". The single officially debuted on 9 September.

On 4 September 2013, it was reported the band were filming the music video for their new single. In late September, 4Music revealed a behind-the-scenes of the video for "Beautiful Life". The video was filmed in London at a shipping dock as the song progresses young people emerge from the crates and join Union J. The music video officially premiered on 16 September 2013

Roberts Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song three out of five stars, saying: "As such, their latest single 'Beautiful Life', which encourages people to live life to the fullest - including one insecure girl who lives a 'broken dream' and spades on the make-up 'to cover up an empty space' - feels a touch on the dated side. The jaunty guitar riff, singalong lyrics and arms-aloft chorus are all present and correct, but what is sorely lacking is a dose of youthful charm."

[George]
She sees the world through TV screens
All of her friends in magazines
But everyday she lives a broken dream, yeah
Making her own reality
There’s lots of make-up on her face
To cover up an empty space
But there’s a lot behind those big blue eyes
She just don’t realize

[Josh]
Everybody’s gone and lost their mind
It’s just the days we live in
Most of the time

[All]
Get up off the dark
Open up your eyes
You’ll discover there’s a world outside (world outside...)
To fix a broken heart
You have to try
Pick it up, pick it up
It’s a beautiful life
Beautiful life, beautiful life
It’s a beautiful life, beautiful life.

[Josh]
He got his fortune on the plate
But all that money won’t change fate
He’s got 6 zeroes but no one to share it with
No friends, no girl, no one in the world

[Jaymi]
Everybody’s gone and lost their mind
It’s just the days we live in
Most of the time, yeah

[All]
Get up off the dark (get up off the dark)
Open up your eyes
You’ll discover there’s a world outside
To fix a broken heart (to fix a broken heart)
You have to try
Pick it up, pick it up
It’s a beautiful life
Beautiful life, beautiful life.
It’s a beautiful life, beautiful life.

[Jaymi]
We are not so different, you and I
Coz everybody’s got a place to hide
But it’s just the things we live in, hmm
Most of the time

[All]
Get up off the dark (get up off the dark) open up your eyes
You’ll discover there’s a world outside (there’s a world outside)
To fix a broken heart (to fix a broken heart)
You have to try
Pick it up, pick it up
It’s a beautiful life
Beautiful life, beautiful life